Album—Jaguar II
Courtesy of Pitchfork (I do not own the rights to this image)
Victoria Monét has once again proven why she’s more than earned praises from all four corners of the Earth. Jaguar II has exceeded all expectations, in every category. In just a short 72 hours, I’ve encountered several R&B AOTY conversations involving this masterpiece. And expectations were very high, so high that the entire tour sold out within hours, signifying a fanbase that has faith in the product before it’s even available to them. This album is a blunt rolled to perfection, containing self-expression and an embrace of feminine power, while exploring the vulnerabilities of success. The length of the project is only 35 minutes, giving listeners the opportunity to digest it all in one sitting, even on your lunch break at work. I ran through it four or five times myself over the weekend and found something new to love about it with every listen. It’s worth noting that Jaguar II sounds incredible in multiple environments— I worked out to it, ran errands with it, cleaned the house with it, and it never felt out of place.
What was clear from the intro is that Victoria’s artistry is a culmination of all decades of R&B. From Soul to Contemporary, she’s a love child of every phase. That shows up in the sequencing, subject matter, instrument choice, melodies, and many other areas. You’re presented with something different at every turn, but it remains cohesive, keeping R&B anchored at the center. That excites me as an R&B connoisseur because any artist can claim to be a student of the genre, but it doesn’t always show in the final product.
In addition to the spectrum of genres, there’s an appreciation of territorial sounds. Each of the chosen singles so far are coated in staples from different regions in the world. For example, “On My Mama” is an obvious ode to southern hip-hop, as the song recites the affirmation given to us by Texas native, Chalie Boy. A well-placed display of versatility.
Some of my favorite tracks include “Smoke”, “Cadillac (A Pimps Anthem)”, “Stop (Askin Me 4Shyt)” and “Hollywood”. Typically, you can tell where the wind blows on albums, and where labels want to go as far as promotion, but every song has potential to be the next single. Every feature makes sense and elevates the experience of the album. Quick side note, Victoria and Lucky are becoming one of my favorite R&B duos and I would love an EP in the future. They are also in the minority of current R&B artists to collaborate with EWF in recent years, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening to The Elements bring their signature touch into the new era. Victoria’s daughter, Hazel, was also listed as a featured artist alongside EWF creating an even stronger bridge between generations in music.
Courtesy of Pitchfork (I do not own the rights to this image)
The attention given to transitions will not go overlooked in this review. Smoke (Reprise) was an extension of the intro, but a cold sequence game allowed for the reprise to serve as both an interlude and seamless transition into an up-tempo record of another sub-genre. A nod to masterful production from D'Mile.
With each track presenting as a timepiece in R&B, I think it’s fair to assume Jaguar II was inspired by a multitude of moments. Some of those ingredients have a bolder presence than others, especially those rooted in funk elements: heavy use of bass, keys, monologues, and danceable bridges. Funk music has always felt open (limitless), and Victoria recreated that magic for dozens of components to fit in three-minute tracks. The homage to previous iterations of R&B worked well and that risk kept me engaged. If Diana Ross and Parliament could make a full length project, it would mirror about 90% of this album.
As I wrap up this review, Victoria is currently the only woman in the top 10 on both US iTunes and Apple Music charts. The early success of Jaguar II puts to rest all the speculation about accolades defining her stardom. Even with thirteen years of work on her resume, this album has transcended her identity to new heights. I’m hopeful the Jaguar series will continue to explore new territory in future installments. Make sure this album is on your radar, purchase it if have the means to do so, and salute to the lucky few hearing it live in the fall!